Firefighters chase grass fires

BUCKEYE LAKE - Until Wednesday's rain, area firefighters continued to battle grass and brush fires. The calls start coming in about noon. It's generally the same story - "My fire got away from me."

Ohio law prohibits outdoor debris burning from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. during March, April and May. Burning is limited in the spring due to the abundance of dry fuel on the ground before small, grassy fuels green up with moisture.

Ohio's Open Burning Regulations prohibit burning some materials anywhere in the state at any time. The materials are:

• Garbage - any wastes created in the process of handling, preparing, cooking or consuming food;

• Materials containing rubber , grease and asphalt or made from petroleum such as tires, cars and auto part, plastic or plastic-coated wire ; and

• Dead animals. The "What can I burn?" chart below details what can be burned and under what conditions. Villages and cites are considered "restricted areas," which include within the boundaries of any municipal corporation; and within corporation limits and a 1,000- foot zone outside any municipal corporation having a population of 1,000 to 10,000. For the lake area, the 1,000 foot zone applies to the Villages of Baltimore, Buckeye Lake, Hebron and Thornville.